Police: Man tried to abduct children from neighborhood playground on Easter

A 37-year-old Silver Spring man has been charged with attempting to abduct two children and exposing himself to a 13-year-old girl in Montgomery County on Sunday, according to officials.

Police say at around 6:45 p.m. on Easter Sunday, they responded to the area of Stewart Lane in White Oak for the report of an attempted child abduction. Two boys, ages eight and nine, were playing at a neighborhood park at the Montgomery White Oak apartment complex when Jemberu Bekele Geda approached them.

Geda grabbed the boy's wrists and attempted to bring them to his apartment, but when the boys told him they did not want to go with him, he let go. Once released, the boys ran home and told their parents.

Earlier that same day, Geda exposed himself to a 13-year-old girl in the same neighborhood, according to officials. The teenage girl was able to point out where Geda lived and police was called.

Police found Geda at his home and he was arrested. Geda told police during an interview that he did not know they boys and that he grabbed them because he wanted them to come over to his apartment to play.

Geda has been charged with one count of indecent exposure and counts of attempted child abduction. He is ordered held without bond.